(1) A class 1 racing association licensed by the commission to conduct a race meet may seek approval from the commission to conduct parimutuel wagering at a satellite location or locations within the state of Washington. In order to participate in parimutuel wagering at a satellite location or locations within the state of Washington, the holder of a class 1 racing association license must have conducted at least one full live racing season. All class 1 racing associations must hold a live race meet within each succeeding twelve-month period to maintain eligibility to continue to participate in parimutuel wagering at a satellite location or locations. The sale of parimutuel pools at satellite locations shall be conducted simultaneous to all parimutuel wagering activity conducted at the licensee’s live racing facility in the state of Washington. The commission’s authority to approve satellite wagering at a particular location is subject to the following limitations:

(a) The commission may approve only one satellite location in each county in the state; provided however, the commission may approve two satellite locations in counties with a population exceeding one million. The commission may grant approval for more than one licensee to conduct wagering at each satellite location. A satellite location shall not be operated within twenty driving miles of any class 1 racing facility. For the purposes of this section, “driving miles” means miles measured by the most direct route as determined by the commission; and

(b) A licensee shall not conduct satellite wagering at any satellite location within sixty driving miles of any other racing facility conducting a live race meet.

(2) Subject to local zoning and other land use ordinances, the commission shall be the sole judge of whether approval to conduct wagering at a satellite location shall be granted.

(3) The licensee shall combine the parimutuel pools of the satellite location with those of the racing facility for the purpose of determining odds and computing payoffs. The amount wagered at the satellite location shall be combined with the amount wagered at the racing facility for the application of take out formulas and distribution as provided in RCW 67.16.102, 67.16.105, 67.16.170, and 67.16.175. A satellite extension of the licensee’s racing facility shall be subject to the same application of the rules of racing as the licensee’s racing facility.

(4) Upon written application to the commission, a class 1 racing association may be authorized to transmit simulcasts of live horse races conducted at its racetrack to locations outside of the state of Washington approved by the commission and in accordance with the interstate horse racing act of 1978 (15 U.S.C. § 3001 to 3007) or any other applicable laws. The commission may permit parimutuel pools on the simulcast races to be combined in a common pool. A racing association that transmits simulcasts of its races to locations outside this state shall pay at least fifty percent of the fee that it receives for sale of the simulcast signal to the horsemen’s or horsewomen’s purse account for its live races after first deducting the actual cost of sending the signal out of state.

(5) Upon written application to the commission, a class 1 racing association may be authorized to transmit simulcasts of live horse races conducted at its racetrack to licensed racing associations located within the state of Washington and approved by the commission for the receipt of the simulcasts. The commission shall permit parimutuel pools on the simulcast races to be combined in a common pool. The fee for in-state, track-to-track simulcasts shall be five and one-half percent of the gross parimutuel receipts generated at the receiving location and payable to the sending racing association. A racing association that transmits simulcasts of its races to other licensed racing associations shall pay at least fifty percent of the fee that it receives for the simulcast signal to the horsemen’s or horsewomen’s purse account for its live race meet after first deducting the actual cost of sending the simulcast signal. A racing association that receives races simulcast from class 1 racing associations within the state shall pay at least fifty percent of its share of the parimutuel receipts to the horsemen’s or horsewomen’s purse account for its live race meet after first deducting the purchase price and the actual direct costs of importing the race.

(6) A class 1 racing association may be allowed to import simulcasts of horse races from out-of-state racing facilities. With the prior approval of the commission, the class 1 racing association may participate in a multijurisdictional common pool and may change its commission and breakage rates to achieve a common rate with other participants in the common pool.

(a) The class 1 racing association shall make written application with the commission for permission to import simulcast horse races for the purpose of parimutuel wagering. Subject to the terms of this section, the commission is the sole authority in determining whether to grant approval for an imported simulcast race.

(b) When open for parimutuel wagering, a class 1 racing association which imports simulcast races shall also conduct simulcast parimutuel wagering within its licensed racing enclosure on all races simulcast from other class 1 racing associations within the state of Washington.

(c) On any imported simulcast race, the class 1 racing association shall pay fifty percent of its share of the parimutuel receipts to the horsemen’s or horsewomen’s purse account for its live race meet after first deducting the purchase price of the imported race and the actual costs of importing and offering the race.

(7) A licensed nonprofit racing association may be approved to import one simulcast race of regional or national interest on each live race day.

(8) For purposes of this section, a class 1 racing association is defined as a licensee approved by the commission to conduct during each twelve-month period at least forty days of live racing. If a live race day is canceled due to reasons directly attributable to acts of God, labor disruptions affecting live race days but not directly involving the licensee or its employees, or other circumstances that the commission decides are beyond the control of the class 1 racing association, then the canceled day counts toward the forty-day requirement. The commission may by rule increase the number of live racing days required to maintain class 1 racing association status or make other rules necessary to implement this section.

(9) This section does not establish a new form of gaming in Washington or allow expanded gaming within the state beyond what has been previously authorized. Simulcast wagering has been allowed in Washington before April 19, 1997. Therefore, this section does not allow gaming of any nature or scope that was prohibited before April 19, 1997. This section is necessary to protect the Washington equine breeding and racing industries, and in particular those sectors of these industries that are dependent upon live horse racing. The purpose of this section is to protect these industries from adverse economic impacts and to promote fan attendance at class 1 racing facilities. Therefore, a licensed class 1 racing association may be approved to disseminate imported simulcast race card programs to satellite locations approved under this section, provided that the class 1 racing association has conducted at least forty live racing days with an average on-track handle on the live racing product of a minimum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars per day during the twelve months immediately preceding the application date. However, to promote the development of a new class 1 racing association facility and to meet the best interests of the Washington equine breeding and racing industries, the commission may by rule reduce the required minimum average on-track handle on the live racing product from one hundred fifty thousand dollars per day to thirty thousand dollars per day.

(10) A licensee conducting simulcasting under this section shall place signs in the licensee’s gambling establishment under RCW 9.46.071. The informational signs concerning problem and compulsive gambling must include a toll-free telephone number for problem and pathological gamblers and be developed under RCW 9.46.071.

(11) Chapter 10, Laws of 2001 1st sp. sess. does not establish a new form of gaming in Washington or allow expanded gaming within the state beyond what has been previously authorized. Simulcast wagering has been allowed in Washington before August 23, 2001. Therefore, this section does not allow gaming of any nature or scope that was prohibited before August 23, 2001. Chapter 10, Laws of 2001 1st sp. sess. is necessary to protect the Washington equine breeding and racing industries, and in particular those sectors of these industries that are dependent upon live horse racing. The purpose of chapter 10, Laws of 2001 1st sp. sess. is to protect these industries from adverse economic impacts and to promote fan attendance at class 1 racing facilities.

Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2013 c 18 § 1 and by 2013 c 23 § 178, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).

Effective date—2007 c 100: “This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [April 18, 2007].” [ 2007 c 100 § 2.]

Effective date—2004 c 274: See note following RCW 67.16.260.

Finding—Purpose—2001 1st sp.s. c 10: “The legislature finds that Washington’s equine racing industry creates economic, environmental, and recreational impacts across the state affecting agriculture, horse breeding, the horse training industry, agricultural fairs and youth programs, and tourism and employment opportunities. The Washington equine industry has incurred a financial decline coinciding with increased competition from the gaming industry in the state and from the lack of a class 1 racing facility in western Washington from 1993 through 1995. This act is necessary to preserve, restore, and revitalize the equine breeding and racing industries and to preserve in Washington the economic and social impacts associated with these industries. Preserving Washington’s equine breeding and racing industries, and in particular those sectors of the industries that are dependent upon live horse racing, is in the public interest of the state. The purpose of this act is to preserve Washington’s equine breeding and racing industries and to protect these industries from adverse economic impacts. This act does not establish a new form of gaming in Washington or allow expanded gaming within the state beyond what has been previously authorized. Simulcast wagering has been allowed in Washington before August 23, 2001. Therefore, this act does not allow gaming of any nature or scope that was prohibited before August 23, 2001.” [ 2001 1st sp.s. c 10 § 1.]

Findings—Purpose—1997 c 87: “The legislature finds that Washington’s equine racing industry creates economic, environmental, and recreational impacts across the state affecting agriculture, horse breeding, the horse training industry, agricultural fairs and youth programs, and tourism and employment opportunities. The Washington equine industry has incurred a financial decline coinciding with increased competition from the gaming industry in the state and from the lack of a class 1 racing facility in western Washington from 1993 through 1995. This act is necessary to preserve, restore, and revitalize the equine breeding and racing industries and to preserve in Washington the economic and social impacts associated with these industries. Preserving Washington’s equine breeding and racing industries, and in particular those sectors of the industries that are dependent upon live horse racing, is in the public interest of the state. The purpose of this act is to preserve Washington’s equine breeding and racing industries and to protect these industries from adverse economic impacts. This act does not establish a new form of gaming in Washington or allow expanded gaming within the state beyond what has been previously authorized. Simulcast wagering has been allowed in Washington before April 19, 1997. Therefore, this act does not allow gaming of any nature or scope that was prohibited before April 19, 1997.” [ 1997 c 87 § 1.]

Report by joint legislative audit and review committee—1997 c 87: “(1) The joint legislative audit and review committee shall conduct an evaluation to determine the extent to which this act has achieved the following outcomes:

(a) The extent to which purses at Emerald Downs, Playfair, and Yakima Meadows have increased as a result of the provisions of this act;

(b) The extent to which attendance at Emerald Downs, Playfair, and Yakima Meadows has increased specifically as a result of the provisions of this act;

(c) The extent to which the breeding of horses in this state has increased specifically related to the provisions of this act;

(d) The extent to which the number of horses running at Emerald Downs, Playfair, and Yakima Meadows has increased specifically as a result of the provisions of this act;

(e) The extent to which nonprofit racetracks in this state have benefited from this act including the removal of the cap on the nonprofit race meet purse fund; and

(f) The extent to which Emerald Downs, Playfair, and Yakima Meadows are capable of remaining economically viable given the provisions of this act and the increase in competition for gambling or entertainment dollars.

(2) The joint legislative audit and review committee may provide recommendations to the legislature concerning modifications that could be made to existing state laws to improve the ability of this act to meet the above intended goals.

(3) The joint legislative audit and review committee shall complete a report on its finding by June 30, 2000. The report shall be provided to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2000.” [ 1997 c 87 § 5.]

Severability—1997 c 87: “If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.” [ 1997 c 87 § 7.]

Effective date—1997 c 87: “This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [April 19, 1997].” [ 1997 c 87 § 8.]